1

Place the container where the blueberries are exposed to at least six hours of sunlight per day. Move the container into shade during hot summer afternoons.

2

Water blueberry bushes whenever the top of the potting mixture feels slightly dry. Provide enough water to keep the soil lightly and evenly moist but never soggy, as blueberries don't like wet feet. Check the container daily during warm, dry weather, as potting soil in containers dries out quickly.

3

Feed blueberry bushes as soon as new growth emerges every spring, using 1/2 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per plant. Repeat fertilizer application in two months and four months. If the bush is mulched, brushed the mulch aside before fertilizing, and then replace the mulch before watering.

4

Cover the potting mixture with 2 inches of mulch such as shredded or chopped bark in mid- to late summer. Mulch keeps the roots cool and moist. To prevent problems caused by insects and excessive moisture, keep the mulch 4 to 5 inches away from the trunk.

5

Wrap the bush lighting in netting when the first berries appear if you notice hungry birds snacking on the fruit.

6

Transplant the blueberry bush if it outgrows its container; young bushes generally needs to be replanted after about two years. Blueberries, which prefer acidic soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5, grow well in a commercial potting mixture formulated for azaleas or rhododendrons.

About the Author

M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing.